Here kitty, kitty!

Nope, I'm not talking about my sweet kitty, Gabby.  I'm talking about this great new die that I just got.  I just loved it when I saw it and for me, I did a rare thing --I  didn't overthink it in so far as how many different ways I could use it.  I just loved it on sight.  Okay, okay, here it is!  Some of you will think I've gone 'round the bend as they say, but I just love the possibilities of this die and the different "occasions" that it could be used for.  Here, take a look at the first card and then we'll discuss its possibilities:

Am I wrong in thinking that this die -- the screen door (screening comes with it!) and the cat (I added an additional cat inside the door) is great for things like "missing you", or "hello", perhaps "encouragement", or just plain old "thinking of you".  I'm sure there are more possibilities that I haven't mentioned.  You think about it and be sure and leave me a comment on it.  I'm all ears!

For this card I simply cut out an oblong the same size as the door from the face of the card, then using a grey Copic marker, I made lines indicating house siding on the front of the card.  I placed the screening in the door, made some hinges (which you can't see) and then punched two of the cats.  I assembled it all to represent the front of the house.  I meant to put a few small bushes beside the door -- maybe we'll do that in class this week.  If you haven't signed up yet, there are only a few openings left for this class on Wednesday nite at the Scrapbook Cupboard.

Now on to the second card.  After I punched the cats out, I realized I had some perfect negative space -- aha!  let's use that for a card as well.  Here's the result.

This is pretty self-explanatory with the exception of how the bow was done.  Using my Craft-Dee BowZ,  I made a double loop bow and attached it at the top.  You'll have to come to the class if you want to learn how this is done!

Call me crazy, but I really, really like the possibilities of this die.  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to leave a comment.

Ciao for now!

Ciao Bella!

Another butterfly sighting!

I TOLD you I love butterflies!  I just got these incredible dies from Cheery Lynn Designs that are so intricate, but oh so easy to cut.  The butterflies come in two sizes with three dies to a package and you'll see a sample of each size on the following cards.  The other thing I recently purchased was two doilies from Cheery Lynn as well.  Doilies are very "hot" now and they really do lend themselves nicely to our card making needs.  So here's my sampling combining butterflies and doilies.

On this first card, I cut the doily from glossy CS and brayered over it using Kaleidescope ink.  I really like the variation of color that it shows.  On top of that I used the Daisy Flower from Spellbinders in two layers, inked the edges and on top of that I popped one of the small butterflies from Cheery Lynn all glittered up with Sparkle N Sprinkle glitter.

This next card shows what I call a "typical" doily - you know, the typical  pattern you find in the stores to dress up your baked goods for company.  It's a rather large doily so I decided to play with it a bit to fit onto a regular A2 size card and this is what I came up with.  The corner punch is one by Kreaxions (4 in 1 punch) and the butterfly is the large monarch from the new Cheery Lynn set.  

I simply creased the entire fan using my Scor-Buddy, cut a slit down one crease and fan folded the doily.  I then taped it to my card front and brushed on glue and glitter around the edges (you can't really tell by the picture - sorry). I then made a 3 loop bow with my E-Z BowZ bow making tool and attached it where all the fold lines meet, glittered up the monarch butterfly and added that as well.  

Well, let's see if my next card can be devoid of butterflies (probably not) as I'm having way too much fun with them.  By the way, you can take this class with me at the Scrapbook Cupboard on Friday, June 24th. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Ciao for now.

Ciao Bella!

Flutter by butterfly

I think everyone enjoys butterflies.  There's something so calming and peaceful watching them flutter and alight, their wings softly catching the air as they gently land from leaf to flower.   Gee, I'm waxing poetic here!  Anyway, I love butterfly images, dies, etc.  This particular stamp by Outlines caught my eye and I just had to play with it.  Well 2 classes later (these were very popular projects at the Scrapbook Cupboard), so I decided I'd share them with you.

The first one is only a portion of the image.  I used Inka Gold Purple on the wings and restamped the wings and mounted them so they flutter.  I then colored the remainder of the image using Copics.  Adding a pretty scallop punch border at the bottom, some ribbon and pearls, and one card done!  Here it is.

The next card, as you can see, is the full image.  Again, I used Copics for coloring, pop dotted the wings and added glitter to all the butterflies and some leaves and flowers - just a touch, not too much.  This card is much prettier in person.  I tried to enhance the glitter, but I'm no great photographer for sure!  If you double click on any image, you will get a better idea.

Thanks for stopping by and I'm sure I'll have more posts during the week.

Ciao for now.

Ciao Bella!

Back to the Punch Bunch

Here's hoping you are all well on this rather dark, dreary day -- just one in the many to follow, according to the weather forecasters.  So let's turn it into something a little more cheerful with these two cards.

Both these cards will be offered as a class next Thursday at the Scrapbook Cupboard.  I needed to shake things up a bit with some of our punches, so I took the large and small pear shape punches by Punch Bunch and created a totally new look (a rose or a pinecone is what you normally make with these punches).  Instead, I created something that looks more like a carnation on the card to the left.  If you've never used the pear shapes, then this will be an interesting class for you.  It just gives you another dimension.  Let's face it, punches can be expensive, so squeezing every ounce of versatility from them is paramount.

The card on the right was created using the tiger lily punch. Just by using different colored card stock with the tiger lily punch created a whole new dimension.  The center of the blue flower is made with the small sun punch.  I also used this delightful oval die that I picked up at the Heirloom Show in West Springfield.  And, of course, the E-Z BowZ bow maker was used to create the pretty, soft bows attached to each of the cards.

Additional punches used were a border punch from Martha Stewart and a 4-way punch from Kreaxions. I'm happy with the overall effect and love the soft, spring colors.

Well, that's it for today.  Be sure and hop on over to the E-Z BowZ blog to take a look at my invention!

Ciao for now.

Ciao Bella!

The Heirloom Stamp Show

Hello all!  I'm back and pooped!  But what fun we had!  Despite the tragedies surrounding us out in West Springfield due to the tornadoes, the show turned out really well.  Unfortunately, we had the opportunity (due to a wrong turn) to view some of the devastation out there.  My heart and prayers go out to all those people and for what they will be facing in the weeks and months to come.

I'd like to share some photos of the Heirloom Show and of our very first booth.  Some of you will recognize yourselves in these photos.  Drop me a line if you do!

Here's our beautiful new banner -- can you 

just make out the Patent Pending in the lower

left corner?  Yay!  Yes, we are officially patent pending!

Here's our lovely booth before the crowds arrived.

My friend, Chris, demonstrating the E-Z BowZ.

More shots of people waiting for a chair to try

the hot new item at the show!

My rascal granddaughter who got bored and

decided my "fancy" bags needed personalization.

She started writing poems that would rhyme with

E-Z  BowZ that were a hoot.  Not at easy feat!

(Note proud Papa in backgfround.)

The owner buried beneath a mound of bows and

her self-appointed "boss" (son #2) in back

keeping an eye on things.  I tried to get him to 

demonstrate, but for some reason he wasn't feeling it. 

Can't imagine why!

One very nice gal wrote on Facebook that it was the best "find" at the show and every one of her bows has come out perfect every time!  Thank you!

Here's a sampling of some of the bows you can make.

So keep watching this blog -- I'll be busy getting the official information up on the E-Z BowZ Bow Maker and how you can get one.  I hope to have a video for you as well.

And finally, some heartfelt thanks to the wonderful folks, Dave and Sheila, at Heirloom for making this a seamless endeavor.  They do an incredible job and are the nicest people to deal with.  Thank you to my wonderful family (hubby, son, daughter and granddaughter) for their eager assistance.  And last, but by no means least, to my wonderful stamping friends, Chris, Mary and Regina for their unselfish time and unparalleled help in demonstrating, cashing out and packing up.  I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

Again, stay tuned for further info on my little tool!

Ciao for now.

Ciao Bella!

And the Show will go on!

The "show" being the West Springfield Stamping Arts Festival on June 4th and 5th.  And why you might ask am I so excited about that?  First of all, you out-of-staters may have heard that we had some tornadoes touch down today.  And where did some of them touch down?  Well, West Springfield, of course.  Fortunately, we were just notified that the fairgrounds at the BigE were untouched by the storm and subsequent devastation.  So the show will go on!  Yay!

The other reason I'm so excited is because  I'll have my very own booth there to show off my little "invention", the E-Z BowZ bow making tool!  Yep, I've gone entrepreneurial!  It seemed that so many of my students were bow challenged that something had to be done about it.  Enter a new type of bow making device called E-Z BowZ.

Briefly, I created a totally self-contained bow making tool that is so easy to use that a 7 year old can use it!  Many of the stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been carrying them for a while now and have enjoyed tremendous success with them.  So I'll be testing the waters a bit further by bringing my invention to the Stamping Arts Festival this weekend.

Here's a quick look at the E-Z BowZ, but there will be more information released at a later date on this.  I am working toward offering them on my blog for the general public, but must get a few things into place before I do.

We have a patent pending in place which will now allow me to go forth and multiply (lol).  I'll be happy to answer any questions regarding the E-Z BowZ, but you'll have to email me.  I look forward to hearing from everyone.

See you in West Springfield!

Ciao for now.

Ciao Bella!